Improvement in drafting-pencils



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK 'W. MCGEE, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

lM PROVEMENT IN DRAFTlNG-PENCILS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,883, datedSeptember 10, 1878 application filed July 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern I Be it knownthatI, FREDERICKWM. MGGEE, ofRutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Drafting-Instruments, of whichthe following is a specification:

My invention relates to an instrument which is more particularlyintended for use in mapdrawing, for the purpose of drawing parallellines to represent the coast 0r shore; but it is applicable to variousother purposes.

The invention consists, essentially, in an instrument having a number oftubes adapted tothe holding of leads-such as are used in everpointedpencils-and having pistons arranged to engage with said tubes, andfurnished with means for operating them simultaneously, wherebyprovision is made for drawin g a number of parallel lines at the sametime.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is aperspectiveview of aninstrument constructed according to my invention, and a representationof the manner of using the same. is a longitudinal sectional view of theinstrument.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a tube, of such size as to be readily held in the fingerslike a pencil or pen. It may be made of metal or any other suitablematerial. The lower end of this tube is forked or divided into twobranches, a a, which are connected by two bars, I) b. In these bars arecarried a number of tubes, 0, lying in directions parallel with thelength-of the tube A. These tubes are of such size as to readily receiveand hold leads, such as are used in what are known as ever-pointedpencils. For each tube C is provided a piston or plunger, 1), consisting of a wire rod, fitting nicely in the tube, for the purpose ofpropelling or pushing out the lead, as in the pencil before referred to.These pistons D (corresponding with the number of tubes 0) are attachedto a bar,-E,which lies between the branches 0. a, parallel with the barsI) b. The bar E has formed on or attached to it a shank or stem, G,which works nicely in the main tube A, and 's provided with an internalscrew-thread.

A rod, H, works in the main tube A, and is provided with an externalscrew-thread for engagement with the thread in the shank or stem G. Therod H is also provided with a collar, h, near its outer end, to preventit from slipping out of the tube A, and with a milled wheel or head, 'i,for turning it.

Byturning the rod H in one direction the pistons D are caused to pushthe leads outward from the ends of the tubes G, as in the pencilreferred to but as said pistons are all attached to the bar E, oarriedbythe stem G, they all move simultaneously.

The drawing shows the instrument as having five tubes and five pistons;but it is obvious that there may be any desired number of each, arrangedin any suitable manner.

When the leads become dull they may be sharpened by a sharpe11er-such asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawing-by placing the milled recess over thepoint of one of the leads and rotating the handle.

I do not claim, broadly, an instrument for drawing a number of parallellines simultaneously, as I am aware that such an idea is covered by thepaper-ruling pens in common use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-- As an improved article of manufacture, adrafting-instrument having a number of leadcarrying tubes and pistonsarranged to en gage therewith, and provided with means, substantially asdescribed, for operating them simultaneously, substantially as hereindescribed.

FREDERICK WILLIAM MoGEE.

Witnesses: I

J OHN -H. VER Noovn, JAMES R. OoLLnRn.

